86 freightliner flc120 running lights random turn off help

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Mountainmover, Aug 20, 2018.

  1. Mountainmover

    Mountainmover Bobtail Member

    37
    4
    Feb 24, 2015
    0
    Hello.
    My run lights on my 1986 freightliner flc120 just randomly cut off. I leave toggle switch off for a while and then they’ll the back on.
    This has been happening for a year before I just put new top of cab lights and side marker lights below doors. Still does it.
    I pull all relays and no relay seems to control it?
    I wire up lots of 12v stuff all my life but this is odd.
    This even happens with trailer wire 7-way unhooked.
    It’s as if something heats up and cuts it off.
    I look at wiring diagram on back of dash panel and maybe a relay “should” be controlling it but it’s not? Haven’t been able to trace wire yet.
    Any tips?

    On a side note...where can I get quality relays for my truck? And the little (two stud box relay looking things (additional mini relay?) behind nut driver size wire connector strip? What are those things called?

    The big relays are aluminum box type that say:
    Bosch Germany

    0332204101

    12v 20/30A

    Are newer plastic ones that match up in specs pretty good? What specs do I need? I want to keep extras in truck for emergency.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. spsauerland

    spsauerland Road Train Member

    4,296
    10,886
    May 31, 2010
    West Harrison, In
    0
    Those are called circuit breakers. They reset when they cool off.
     
  4. Mountainmover

    Mountainmover Bobtail Member

    37
    4
    Feb 24, 2015
    0
    Thanks. I was about to say I think they are circuit breakers but wasn’t sure if exact term at moment. What makes me wonder is why there are no fuses? Must be a good reason?
    So, maybe my running lights are wired into just a circuit breaker and the breaker is failing? How to test? Hmmm. Just replace? Napa?

    Thanks!
     
  5. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

    28,971
    155,767
    Jul 7, 2015
    Canuckistan
    0
    Circuit breakers do tend to get weaker if they trip repeatedly. I would start by replacing the breaker that's tripping with one of the same rating. I would also inspect the wiring on that circuit for damage (ie rubbed through) and that the circuit isn't being overloaded (extra lights/accessories added to that circuit that weren't there from factory).
     
  6. Mountainmover

    Mountainmover Bobtail Member

    37
    4
    Feb 24, 2015
    0
    Thanks for the tip. So I removed the circuit breaker that the wiring diagram shows. #46 wire from 5 (top of cab) marker lights. Of course, the 4 side truck market lights (2 below each door) aren’t shown in diagram. My 2 per side lights seem to have a wire that comes up through back of floorboard on each side of cab corners and thread under carpet Center bottom dash wiring central.

    What is odd is that the circuit breaker (2nd row left from top as seen in one attached pic {brass flat strip hub}) (inside the bottom of the v shape of blue wire) for circuit breakers) has a flat jumper brass connector that crosses over to right hand side behind nuts.

    Maybe I need to replace both sides?
    I wonder if these circuit breakers control the trailer clearance lights as well. I think #23 (as seen in wiring diagram in attached pic) is the wire that runs to trailer tail lamp relay.

    I guess I should go by a napa and match up the circuit breaker. Or amazon.

    The circuit breaker on left side 2 from top is:
    short stop type 2 12v 10 amp circuit breaker

    And I assume the right strip side 2 from top is same but 30 amp relay.
     

    Attached Files:

  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.